Formerly a partner in The Bar Downtown, a watering hole to the west at St. Francis Street, Golden and his business partner, David Brush, had planned on buying the 50-plus taps once used by Hopjacks, which is based in Pensacola.

But after a little more discussion, the pair decided to just lease the whole building instead. And so, with a goal of being open before this year's BayFest on Oct. 5, Golden on Tuesday announced the old Hopjacks will become the new LoDa Bier Garden.

“I don't think you'll find a better location than that right there," Golden said. "I feel that location, if managed correctly, could give Mobilians exactly what they want and be dynamite."

What they'll get at 251 Dauphin St. is 50 types of draft beer and a "huge" selection of craft beer available in large-format bottles -- 22-ounce and 750 mL offerings that only recently became available due to a new state law that went into effect on Aug. 1. Previously, beer bottle size was capped at 16 ounces.

In addition to the giant beer selection, Golden said he plans to make full use of the existing pizza ovens, offering pizza by the slice, homemade pretzels and buns to hold a selection of bratwurst.

"There's nowhere you can get brats and beer in Mobile, and fresh pretzels too," he said.

And while patrons fill their bellies with beer, bread and brats, they'll have something new to watch in a relatively old space: a giant screen showing sporting events.

Golden and his partner have been developing a space to the west at Cedar and Dauphin streets, which was originally going to be called the LoDa Bier Garden, and while plans are still going ahead with that space, he said a new name is in the offing for the place that could boast as many as 100 beers on tap.

"I want it to be where if you're getting a craft beer on Dauphin Street, hopefully at least half the time it's coming from us," Golden said.

The pair also bought the old Julie's Bar at 9371 Dauphin Island Parkway, and are cleaning up and developing that space, as well. But for now, the focus is squarely on reopening the space that has most recently held the eateries Hopjacks and Picklefish, respectively.

Golden said he has a special love for downtown Mobile, that "I'm very, very passionate about, as well as the people."

"I think it is the epitome of what an entertainment district should be," he said.